Harper named USATF Athlete of the Week

8/1/2012

INDIANAPOLIS - Denzel Harper has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning five gold medals at the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships in Baltimore, Maryland. Harper became the first ever athlete to win five individual events at the Junior Olympics.

Competing in the youth boy’s division, Harper (Quicksilver Track Club) began his week at the Junior Olympics by winning the pentathlon title with 3,061 points and continued to have dominating performances throughout the competition. Harper went on to win titles in the long jump (6.45m/21-02), triple jump (12.91m/42-04.25), 100-meter hurdles (13.71) and 200m hurdles (25.01).

Though the five gold medals around his neck shows his innate talent, Harper said it took him competing at his very best in order to win them.

“I was seeded first in everything except the 100m hurdles so I knew I had to [run a personal record] to win the 100m hurdles,” Harper said. “In every race I had to [run a personal record] to win.”

Harper was able to run a personal record in every event, including a one-foot personal best in the long jump.

“I’m good under pressure,” Harper said. “I had to do the 100m hurdles semifinals while I was in the middle of triple jump and then the same thing happened in the long jump. It was great.”

Now in its 11th year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on www.usatf.org. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.